Bus shelters cost nearly $220,000

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Almost $220,000 was spent on two Picton bus shelters and artwork on another, council figures show.

A total of $219,500 was spent on the Picton i-Site bus shelter, the Wellington St bus shelter and tourism promotion artwork at a bus stop on Auckland St, Marlborough District Council figures show.

The original budget for the work was $190,000, but council approved a contingency sum of $218,500 after recognising potential challenges for construction of the bus shelters.

The figures were released to the Express under the Official Information Act.

Council manager support services Dean Heiford said $160,000 was initially budgeted to cover the cost of the i-Site bus shelter and $30,000 for the Wellington St one.

"The redesign work, due to the difficulties encountered with the site and the late delivery of materials by one supplier, pushed out the project timeline by four to six weeks, extending the time and costs of site management and traffic management," Heiford said.

Blenheim construction company Davidson Group started work on the i-Site bus shelter late last year, Heiford said.

The cost of the shelters was broken down into four categories - $32,000 for engineering, design and site management; $162,000 for preparation, foundation, materials and labour; $19,000 for artwork, seating, lights, screen and signage; and $6500 for consents. The costs could not be elaborated on any further, he said.

"They were doing it to a contact . . . it's very uncommon for a contractor to break the costs down."

Atlantis backpackers' hostel owner Sheira Hudson said the cost and design of the Picton i-Site bus shelter was a "horror story".

"No-one wants to hear about it anymore, just like no-one wants to hear about Clifford Bay."

The bus shelter roof did not extend far enough to stop rain from blowing in, and as it was glass did not provide shade from the sun. "It really is just embarrassing."

She wanted to see the shelter taken down and moved and replaced with something "more Picton", Hudson said.